Massaging device



E wHARToN MASSAGING DEVICE Flled May 19 1925 Oct' 26, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDITH WHARTON, 0F SAN FRANCISCQ, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB TO BLANCHE OER'VELLI, 0E SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MASSAGING DEVICE.

Application iiled May 19, 1925. Serial No.

This invention relates to massaging devices for treating the superficial soft parts of the body for remedial purposes, and has for its primary 'object of this character which will be conducive to a functional action similar to that induced by the action of the fingers and hand of an expert massagist, and which said device will be characterized b means for producing. a pinching or knea ing like effect that will cause the pores of the skin to respond to the action of medicinal compounds generally employed to assist in evacuating the fat cells of fatty matter. v y

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character including means for causing regulated amounts of pore opening and fat attacking liquid to be conveyed to the surface of the body during the massaging treatment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will notblood vessels or muscles and which, at the same time, will rofoundly stimulate blood circulation, open t e pores of the skin and readily dissipate the accumulation of fatty matter; increase the breathing capacity of the skin, and augment strength and vital energy.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangements of parts which will hereinafter be fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the 'accompanying drawings has been illustrated a single and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitations are necessarily made to the precise structural details therein eX- hibited, but that changes, alternations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

Figure l is a bottom plan view of the device' Figure 2 is a vertical section therethrough;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the device connected with a supplemental massaging surface; and

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 2 showing a slightly modified form of the ininjure the skin,

vention.

ln carrying the invention into practice, I

the provision of a device employ a hea'd 5 having a liquid chamber 6.-

ormed on the under side of this head are which are preferably arranged equidistantly about the said under side of the head, and as shown clearly in Figures 2 and 4, certain of these teeth or bulb-like elements are longer than others, and in practice I arrange these teeth so that they are relatively in pairs of, say, two long ones and two short one's, the arrangement being alternated throughout the transverse area of the head. A, Figures 2 and 4, represents a surface of the skin or body when the teeth or bulblike elements 7 are pressed slightly in contact therewith. It will be observed that the line A is more or less undulated or wave-like, and in consequence thereof the teeth or elements 7 as they are rubbed in contact with the skin produce a very desirable kneading or pinching like effect so that the pores of the skin tend to open up and thereby permit free evacuation of fat producing matter in the fat tissues of the body.

The teeth or elements 7 are rounded on their lower ends so as to faces that will contact these surfaces are broad enough to prevent chaiing of the skin or rupture thereof. These teeth are formed with vertical bores or orifices 8 which open into the chamber 6 and with the skin, and

Awhich terminate medially of the broad curved Surfaces at the free ends of the teeth. The purpose of this arrangement is to permit a medicinal solution contained in the chamber 6 to be forced through the teeth and finally delivered on to the surface of the skin in proximity to the parts under treatment.

Arranged within the chamber 6 is a sponge 9 or other suitable well-known body capable of holding moisture. Slidably mounted within the chamber and against the sponge is a sponge squeezing and liquid distributing follower 10. ThisXfollower is of a contour in substantial agreement with the boundary walls of the chamber 6 so that the follower is free to slide in the chamber when pressure of the hand is advanced thereagainst. The follower is preferably provided with a mar ginal packing ring ll which prevents escape in one direction of the liquid' in the chamber 6 when pressure is advanced against the follower.

present smooth surstated, practically Carried by the head 5 is a hand strap 12, preferably formed of elastic webbing.A This strap extends over the follower 10 medially thereof and in suitable spaced relation thereto so that the hand can be inserted between the strap an'l the follower with the palm of the hand bearing against the convex side 10 of the follower.

I have now described a novel form of massaging device capable of being placed upon the hand of the user so that the teeth or bulb-like elements 7 may be actuated over the skin to set up the desired frictional con' tact and at the same time knead or pinch the skin, so to speak. I have also provided means whereby during this operation a fat attacking and pore opening solution can be distributed on to the skin so that the func tional result of the device in operation is very conducive to a breaking down of the fat cells and adjacent tissues to the extent that free evacuation of the cells of fatt; fluid or matter results. By forming the teeth or elements 7 in the manner herein all parts of the human body can be treated satisfactorily without` fear of rupturing blood vessels or bruising the muscles, and in practice and incident to the relative lengths and grouping of said elements 7, I iind that very slight pressure need be brought against the device during the massaging operation.

lVhile I have stated that practically all parts of the human body may be treated without fear of injury when the elements 7 are brought into direct contact therewith, there may be exceptional instances where a pliable massaging surface is desirable, and with this in mind, I provide a separable massaging head 13 which may be formed of any suitable well-known material, preferably rubber. The outline of the supplemental head follows that of the base of the head 5, and the supplemental head is provided with sockets 14 adapted to accommodate the elements 7. Opening into the sockets are orilices 15, by means of which liquid discharged from the elements 7 may be scattered onto the lower face 16 of the supplemental head. For this reason theY sockets 14 are somewhat pear-shaped so as to prevent crowding of the lower ends of the elements 7 into the restricted lower portions of the sockets. In this manner, free flow of the liquid from the chamber 6 is relied upon. The under surface of the 'supplemental head 13 may be formed with elements like the elements 7, or

this head may be constructed with any desirable form of massaging surface.

In Figure 4 I have shown a slightly modifiedv form of the invention, the chamber ti being of hollow form and including a wall 17 having a filling opening lo by means of which the chamber inav be supplied with liquid, and a block 19 threadedly connected with said opening. In this instance I rely upon a discharge of liquid from the chamber by venting the chamber to the atmosphere, and as shown, the block 19 is provided with a vent valve'20 having a manipulating stem 21 exposed to one side of the wall 17 at a point adjacent to the hand strap 12a. lYhen the valve stem is depressed, the valve is opened to the outside atmosphere and air is permitted to flow into the chamber to take the place of the expelled liquid.

While in many cases I am able to hold the supplemental head firmly upcn the teeth i' without additional securing means, I prefer to provide the head 13 with straps of webbing, the free ends having resilient sockets Q3 adapted to engage resilient heads 2l on the main head 5.

I claim:

1. A massaging device comprising a head having a liquid chamber, a set of apertured teeth extending from the head, the teeth heing grouped in pairs of relatively dil'erent lengths, and a pliable member attached to the head and having sockets receiving the respective teeth, the said member having apertures in open communication with the apertures of said teeth, and being oi" sut-h size and of such a degree of pliability as to cause the teeth to exert a cushioned massaging action.

2. A massaging device comprising a head having massaging teeth. said head having a chamber, the teeth having openings communicating with the chamber, a pliable absorbent member fitted in the chamber. a combined rigid follower and closure for the ah sorbent member, said combined rigid follower and closure having a portion disposed exteriorly of the device and adapted to he flatly engaged by the hand, and a hand-cngaging strap extending over the follower and secured at its ends to the head so that the hand may be inserted between the strap and the follower and used to manipulate the massage device and also operate the follower to control the discharge of liquid.

EDITH IVHARTO.

lltl 

